A love of the outdoors leads Army veteran to Virginia Tech Ph.D. program
Timothy Shively, a Ph.D. student studying plant pathology, physiology, and weed science, spends his days in laboratories and greenhouses, researching a biological control agent for an invasive tree.
He’s on a new path from the one he started as an undergraduate, when he left his home in Indianapolis for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a childhood dream of serving in the military.
“I don't really remember any distinctive reason why I wanted to join,” Shively said. “For some reason, I just always wanted to do it as a kid. I was also 13 when 9/11 happened, and I think that kind of started this whole new era, which kind of re-affirmed the choice.”
He graduated in 2010 and commissioned into the U.S. Army, where he served for eight years.
In 2018, Shively decided to take a voluntary separation and returned to civilian life, where he then went on to receive his master’s degree in natural resources with a minor in forestry at North Carolina State University.
Shively’s military experience was not one he expected as a child. But he said his experience at West Point prepared him well for the transition into the Army.
“When you go to West Point, you aren’t technically active duty yet,” he said. “But it’s like you're living in the military. You wear a uniform every day, and there are trainings over the summers. It's like being in the Corps of Cadets here at Virginia Tech, but just a little bit more intensive.”
Shively served as a part of the infantry, spending a year in Afghanistan from 2011-12. He reflected on that time as one filled with copious training, walking for hours in rain with heavy weight on his back. He feels gratitude for the experiences he gained.
“It has this conflicting effect on those people,” he said. “On the one hand it ages you quickly and you gain a lot of experience quickly — sort of baptism by fire, as they say. But at the same time, it also keeps you young at heart.”
While Shively’s undergraduate degrees are in literature and philosophy, he knew his passion for the outdoors could lead him somewhere different. Knowing his time in the Army would soon end, he began stewing about where his future could take him.
He pictured himself working for the U.S. Forest Service or various land management agencies and soon realized that his future could be in environmental science. Earning a Ph.D. felt like the best next step, and his fervor for research brought him to Virginia Tech.
Shively is a Tillman Scholar through the Pat Tillman Foundation, which identifies remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses, and empowers them with academic scholarships and leadership development opportunities. Shively grew up hearing stories about the namesake of the scholarship, Pat Tillman, a professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals who enlisted in the Army after 9/11 and was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan, and he points to these stories as the reason behind his tenacity.
“It’s neat to be a part of an organization that embraces those stories and makes sure they aren’t forgotten,” he said. “They also try to cultivate a sense of community and emphasize how they select people who will continue to make an impact in their communities.”
While his military experience might stand front and center ostensibly, Shively highlights his relationship with his family for making him into the person he is today. Shively has been married since 2010 to his wife, Stef, and enjoys spending his time with his two sons, Reece and Elias.
Written by Cyna Mirzai, a senior and an intern for Virginia Tech Communications and Marketing
Resources for veterans:
- Virginia Tech Office of Veterans Services
- Virginia Tech Veterans Caucus
- Veterans@VT
- Virginia Department of Veterans Services
- Department of Veterans Affairs
